“Using the Trial of John Peter Zenger (1735)
to Teach About Freedom of Expression:
A Focus on Debate (5th grade)”

II. LESSON PLAN:

STUDENT QUESTION:

Did Zenger have a right to publish criticism of the governor?
Why do you think having an independent (freedom of) press is important?

TEACHER QUESTIONS :

• Can students use debate rhetoric and language to build, present and contend points of view?
  
  
• Will the historical content and debate format learned translate into the students into the writing? How successfully?

What students will do that provides evidence to help answer teachers questions:

• Participate in class discussion of the freedom of the press (from the U.S. Constitution to provide background)
  
• Informally present arguments (pros and cons) prior to learning debate language (school uniforms) as an introduction
  
• Formally debate historical event featuring Peter Zenger incorporating language, rhetoric and pros/cons (Oral Presentation)
  
• Write multi-paragraph essay, using evidence, to answer student question (Did Zenger have the right to publish criticism of the royal governor?)

STANDARDS

History-Social Science Content Standards addressed:

5.7 Students describe the people and events associated with the development of the U.S. Constitution and analyze the Constitution’s significance as the foundation of the American republic.

5.7.4 Understand how the Constitution is designed to secure liberty by both empowering and limiting central government and compare the powers granted to citizens, Congress, the president, and the Supreme Court with those reserved to the states.

5th grade OUSD Historical Thinking addressed:

Diversity and Multiple Perspectives
(Students examine beliefs, values and conditions of life of a variety of different people from different times and places)

Historical Interpretation
(Students understand that it is possible to tell different stories about the same events)

Evidence
(Students identify places or sources where they can obtain information)